The Woman In The Red Dress

2- Going Well

There are only a few more days until New Years. This year has gone by quickly and not much was accomplished. I still kept my head up high, hoping everything goes well for me.

At the police station, everyone was telling each other about what they plan on doing for New Years. Heard parties a lot and the occasional going on vacation for several weeks. I do wish I could go on vacation like everyone else. Lately I've been feeling more stressful than usual and a month long break sounds really good right now. Maybe a nap where I never wake up from would do.

Hearing everyone's plan on what to do made me feel a little left out. Even poor somehow. We all make the same salary, but yet I feel poor ? I don't spend my money on useless things, but somehow I'm losing money. Well...everything is expensive nowadays. It sort of sucks. Inflation sucks.

I was getting bored of hearing everyone's plans so I pulled out my phone and started scrolling on my social media. All I saw was the photos of people living their rich life. Oh to be like them- expect the fake stuff though. It's hard to trust anyone on these sites when photo editing exists.

There are so many couples on here. Was this site mocking me ? If so then it's not working. I already saw a couple of ads of anti-depression pills which is pretty rude.

As I scrolled with my thumb and liked a few posts, a notification popped up above my phone. It was a text from a fellow friend. I opened it up to read it. It was from Luis who was asking when I got out of work. I told him I would get out in a few hours and he texted back an "ok". Wonder what he needed.

I looked up from my phone for a moment since I didn't want to stare at the screen for too long. When I looked up, I noticed a S.T.A.R.S. member. Think they were a part of Alpha Team. Wonder what's it like being a part of that team. Must be cool.

They looked my way and our eyes met. She smiled at me so I smiled back. I kind of left like a freshman when a popular senior kid noticed them. We always kind of bumped into each other's way occasionally, but we never exchanged any words. I've heard of her a few times yet I cannot remember what her name is. Something...something...Henderson ? No, that can't be it. Maybe I'll eventually figure it out and one day we can actually talk to each other.

Guess the day went on by quickly since I'm already walking out the door. Time flies by pretty fast. Too bad it can't go any faster when I'm bored.

I sent a text over to Luis to tell him I'm free. He sends me back: "Now get your ass over here". Oh, so he wanted me to come over to his place. This better be good.

I drove over to his place after I was done doing stuff in my own home. When I got over there, I parked my car and headed to the door and knocked on it loudly. The door opened after a few seconds. Was he standing near the door waiting for me ?

"Okay. I'm here," I say sort of shivering. "What do you need ?"

"Leon, I'm glad you're here. I need you for something. I—"

"That's cool and all but please let me inside so we can discuss this. It's freezing out here."

I was not kidding about it being freezing. Feels like I could be standing on Mount Everest. I'm wearing a jacket and that still won't warm me up. Every time a day passes by in December, it starts to get colder than ever before.

He soon lets me in. Finally into a warm place so I don't freeze to death. The inside was very warm like the inside of an oven. I took off my jacket and he tells me I can hang it up on the coat hanger.

As I did that, he finished what he was trying to tell me. "I'm heading over to Spain for a New Year trip and I want to buy some American things to give my family a taste of how it's like here. I need you to help me figure out which American stuff is great to show off since you lived here all your life."